Wittmann, a member of the Waffen-SS, first rose to prominence during the immense tank battles on the Eastern Front in 1943. His unit, the 1st SS Panzer Division, was part of the spearhead at the Battle of Kursk, the largest tank engagement in history. His prowess was built upon the formidable Tiger I tank, which outmatched most Allied armor in firepower and protection. The action at Villers-Bocage in June 1944 cemented his notoriety in the West, where his surprise attack on an Allied armored col